Centrifugal separator bowl with periodically operated sludge discharge means



y 6, 1965 P. STEINACKER 3,193,194

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR BOWL WITH PERIODICALLY OPERATED SLUDGE DISCHARGEMEANS Filed June 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Shet l IN \I/ENTOR. P6 re 3 rZ-INACKEQ w /14 m. HfRlovoLoLl/ AGEIW July 6, 1965 P. STEINACKER 3,193,194

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR BOWL WITH PERIODICALLY OPERATED SLUDGE DISCHARGEMEANS Filed June 25, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 9 b& .9 Z u =55 I 'Z'\ 20z/3o X 1 w i/ 1 31 29 INVENTOR.

iwmwm y 6, 1965 P. STEINACKER 3,193,194

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR BOWL WITH PERIODICALLY OPERATED SLUDGE DISCHARGEMEANS Filed June 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VE N TOR. P6725SI'INAC/(fQ WA m HKRAMA/ United States Patent Oflice 3,193,194 PatentedJuly 6, 1965 3,193,194 CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR BQWL WITH PERI- ODICALLYOPERATED SLUDGE DISQHARGE MEANS Peter Steinaclcer, Gelde, Westphalia,Germany, assignor to Westfalia Separator A.G., Oelde, Westphalia,Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed June 25, 1962, Ser. No. 205,011Claims priority, application Germany, June 26, 1961, W 30,245 1 Claim.(ill. 23320) The present invention relates to centrifugal separators,and more particularly to the type of automatic, selfcleaning bowlseparators wherein solids or sludge accumulating inside the bowl isperiodically discharged from the sludge space in the bowl while the unitcontinues to run at full speed. It is directed more specifically toimprovements in separator bowls which have peripherally arranged sludgedischarge port means and a pressure fluidoperated sliding piston whichis slidable in the direction of the bowl axis under the control of apressure fluid to open and close the discharge port means.

In apparatus of this kind, it has been proposed to mount the slidingpiston in a cylinder formed between the bottom wall of the sludge spaceand the bottom wall of the bowl, the piston defining a pressure fluidport means opening chamber with the bottom wall of the sludge space anda port means closing chamber with the bottom wall of the bowl.

The speed with which the sliding piston moves between its openingposition to its closing position depends not only on the pressuredifferential between the fluid in the opening and closing chambers ofthe cylinder but also on the pressure exerted upon the piston by thedischarging contents of the bowl escaping through the port means. Thevertical component of the latter pressure adds to the opening pressureexerted upon the piston. Thus, equal performance with goods of varyingweights can be attained only if the closing pressure exerted upon thepiston is larger when the charge of the bowl is heavier.

Heretofore, the radial distance of the overflow port from the axis ofthe bowl in the opening and closing chambers have been selected inreference to an average specific weight of the expected charges of thebowl. The level of pressure fluid in the chambers depends on the radialposition of the overflow ports. In cases where the specific weights ofthe bowl charges diifered too widely, it became necessary to close offthe overflow ports and make new ports at different locations. Basically,there fore, the conventional bowls of this type assured most favorablesludge discharge operations only for one specific weight of the charge,particularly where it was desired to de-sludge only partially and leaveresidual sludge in the bowl.

It is the primary object of the present invention to overcome thesedifiiculties and make the overflow port in one of the sliding pistoncylinder chambers adjustable so that a single bowl may be readily usedfor charges of different specific weight.

In accordance with this invention, the pressure differential between thecylinder chambers may be adjusted to the specific weight of the chargeby a radially movable element which determines the level of the pressurefluid in one of the chambers, i.e. either the closing chamber or theopening chamber.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the inventionwill become more apparent when the same is considered in the followingdetailed description of three specific embodiments thereof, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a verticalsection of a separator bowl incorporating one embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a similar vertical section showing the portion of the bowlincorporating another embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 and shows a third embodiment.

The bowl consists of a bottom wall 1 and a conical upper wall 2, theperipheral cylindrical portion of the bottom wall being connected to theupper wall by sealing ring 3 which threadedly engages one or both walls.A peripheral sludge space 2 is defined in the interior of the bowl bythe upper wall 2 and a separating wall 5, a liquid charge distributor 4being fixedly connected to the separating wall'S, and the liquid chargeentering the bowl through inlet pipe 4. An axially slidable, pressurefluid operated, annular piston 6 is mounted in a pressure fluid cylinderdefined by the bottom wall 1 of the bowl and the separator wall 5, anannular skirt 6a extending upwardly from the piston and sliding in anannular space between the periphery of the separator wall 5 and thebottom Wall 1 of the bowl.

The separator wall 5 has a first wall portion 5' which is generallyparallel to the conical upper wall 2 of the bowl and, ascendingtherefrom, a second wall portion 5" extending towards upper bowl wall 2but defining therewith an annular gap 71. The cylindrical periphery ofthe bowl Wall 1 defines several ports 7 in alignment with gap 71. Thesliding skirt 5a is designed to open and close communication between thegap '71 and ports 7 upon axial movement of the piston 6, the gap andports constituting a sludge discharge means in the periphery of the bowlupon opening of communication between the gap and the ports by thepressure fluid operation of piston 6. The pressure fluid cylinder isdivided by the piston into a discharge means opening chamber 11 and aclosing chamber 3.

As shown, the bowl has a hub 12 fixedly mounted on a shaft constitutingthe axis of rotation of the bowl, the shaft being coupled to a source orpower (not shown) for rotation at any desired speed required forcentrifug ing a liquid charge placed into the bowl.

The bowl has suitable discharge means (not shown) for the liquidclarified in the bowl. Such discharge means is well know per se and maytake any suitable form. Since it forms no part of the present invention,it has not been shown.

Conventional conical disc means 16 is mounted concentrically about thebowl axis in the interior of the bowl, as is also conventional. Pressurefluid, such as water, is supplied to the cylinder chambers 8 and 11through main conduit 18, branch conduits 19 and 29 directing thepressure fluid into the opening and closing chambers, respectively. Asis conventional and described, for instance, in US. Patent No.2,840,302, of which I am a joint inventor, after the discharge of thesludge is completed, i.e. when it is desired to close ports '7, thepressure fluid passing through conduit 18 is throttled down so that thepressure fluid is centrifugally forced through branch conduit 20 only,or primarily, into the closing chamber 8 while the amount of pressurefluid entering into opening chamber 11 through radially inwardlypositioned branch conduit 19 is reduced to less than the amount passingout of it through outlet port means 26 in communication with bore 27 inthe piston, or no pressure fluid at all enters conduit 19. When the headof the operating pressure fluid is increased in main conduit 18, anincreased amount of pressure fluid is supplied to chamber 11 throughradially inwardly located branch conduit 19, the piston will be forceddownwardly by the increasing fluid pressure in this chamber and thedischarge port means 7, 71 will thus be opened, permitting sludge to bedischarged through these port means by centrifugal force, as the bowlcontinues to rotate.

3 The amount of closing pressure depends on the amount of fluid in theclosing chamber 8 and is adjustably controlled in accordance with thepresent invention. In

the embodiment of FIG. 1, this is accomplished by connectingthe closing.chamber 8 with a pressure fluid overflow. chamber 9 through boreZ' whichconstitutes an overflow port for fluid in closing chamber'S. Astationary fluid discharge pipe 10 extends radially into the overflowchamber 9 and constitutes a fluid removal element. The paring pipe 10 isradially adjustably mounted in relation to the bowl axis so that thepipe intake lfla may be positioned at different radial distances fromthe axis, which will change the pressure fluid level in closing chamber8 and thus the closing pressure on'the sliding piston in accordance withthe specific weight of the charge. In this manner, the bowl may bereadily adapted to charges of greatly varying specific weight withoutimpairing the eificiency of the de-sluding cycle.

Except for the adjustable means for regulating the closing pressure onthe sliding piston, the separator bowl of FIG. 2 is the same as that ofFIG. 1 and like reference numerals indicate like parts therein to avoidduplication of description. In this embodiment; the piston closingchamber 8 is connected with a fluid overflow chamber 28 through bore 2,the overflow chamber being formed by a radial bore in the bottom wall ofthe bowl. Threadedly mounted in the overflow chamber is a plug 30 havinga central bore in communication with the overflow pipe 31 extendingradially into the overflow chamher 28. A gasket 32 circumferentiallymounted on the plug prevents leakage from the overflow chamber and whenthe plug is moved along threads 29 for radial adjustment of the overflowpipe, the amount of fluid land the corresponding pressure in closingchamber 8 is adjusted to any desired amount.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, which again generally shows the sameseparator bowl, like reference numerals being applied to like parts, thepressure differential between the opening and closing chambersareadjustable by regulating the pressure in the opening chamber 11 Asshown, the opening chamber 11 is connected with an overflow chamber 34through bore 33 which constitutes an overflow port for fluid in theopening chamber. A stationary fluiddischarge or paring. pipe 35 similarto pipe '10 of FIG. 1 extends radially into the overflow chamber andconstitutes an element withdrawing fluid from the chamber and thus fromopening chamber 11, the output of pipe 35 depending on the radialposition of its intake 34a in relation to the bowl axis. radiallyadjustably mounted in a suitable bracket so that its adjustment mayreadily adapt the bowl to charges of The pipe is 4 varying specificweight without impairing the efficiency of the de-sludging cycle. I

Variations and modifications of the specifically described structuresmay readily have occurred to the skilled in the art, such as the placement of the radially adjustable overflow means directly in theclosing or .open

ing chamber, without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim: V a

A separator bowl comprising in combination, an end wall, a bottom wall,a separating wall between the end and bottom walls, the separating wallforming a sludge space with the end wall and a pressure fluid cylinderwith the bottom Wall, peripheral sludge discharge port means in saidbowl adjacent said sludge space, a sliding piston mounted in saidpressure fluid cylinder for axial reciprocation in relation to thedischarge port means for opening and closing said port means, saidpiston separating said cylinder into two pressure fluid chambers,separate pressure fluid supply means leading into each of' said chambersfor eflecting said axial reciprocation,

the force of the reciprocation depending on the level of the pressurefluid in the chambers, pressure fluid overflow means for one of saidchambers for determining the fluid level therein, said overflow meanscomprising on overflow port, a housing adjacent the overflow, port anddefining an overflow chamber, and a pressure fluid removal elementradially adjustably mounted in said overflow chamber to receive pressurefluid from said overflow means for adjusting the fluid level in said onepres sure fluid chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCESGerman printed application No. 1,003,650, 2/57.

HARRY THORNTON, Primary Examiner. ROBERT'F. BURNETT, Examiner.

